Ninja Kiwi released Bloons TD 6 in June 2018 and has kept adding to it ever since, past 25 monkey towers split across the Primary, Military, Magic and Support categories. Every tower has three upgrade paths of five tiers, but you may only take two paths and the second one caps at tier 2, which is the single rule that shapes every strategy in the game. Rounds run to 100 in standard play, with the MOAB arriving at 40, the BFB at 60, the ZOMG at 80, the DDT at 90 and the BAD at 100.
Combat in Bloons TD 6 rewards knowledge over reflexes. Understanding how each mechanic works (and how they interact) is what turns a struggling player into a dominant one. New here? Start with our beginner's guide for the basics.
Core Combat Mechanics
1. Two path upgrade limit
A tower can reach tier 5 on one path while a second path is capped at tier 2, and the third path stays empty. Those two crosspath tiers are not filler: the extra pierce or attack speed they add is often worth more than the tier 4 upgrade you skipped.
Why it matters: This is the foundation of all combat. Everything else builds on this.
2. Bloon properties and immunities
Black and White bloons resist explosions and freezing, Lead resists sharp attacks, Purple resists energy, magic and fire, and Camo cannot be targeted without detection. Monkey Village path 2 answers most of this, with Radar Scanner at tier 2 for camo and Monkey Intelligence Bureau at tier 3 for the rest.
Why it matters: The most underrated mechanic. Players who master this early have a massive advantage.
3. Monkey Knowledge and hero levelling
Monkey Knowledge points are permanent account upgrades that reduce costs and add small buffs, and heroes gain levels inside a match while only one hero may be placed. Both are disabled in CHIMPS, which is why CHIMPS clears feel so different from normal runs.
Why it matters: Unlocks a new layer of gameplay depth once understood.
4. Cash income and the Banana Farm
Cash comes from popping and from round end bonuses, and the Banana Farm converts early spending into a much bigger late defence. Monkey Bank on the middle path compounds interest inside the bank, while Monkey Wall Street on the bottom path collects for you.
Why it matters: The tactical edge that separates average players from advanced ones.
5. CHIMPS ruleset
CHIMPS stands for no Continues, no Hearts lost, no Income, no Monkey Knowledge, no Powers and no Selling. One life, rounds 6 to 100, and every placement is permanent, so the mode is really a test of whether your opening spending was correct.
Why it matters: The endgame optimization mechanic. Small improvements here compound into massive gains.
How These Mechanics Combine
Understanding how mechanics interact is where real optimization happens:
Two path upgrade limit + Bloon properties and immunities
A tower can reach tier 5 on one path while a second path is capped at tier 2, and the third path stays empty. When combined with Bloon properties and immunities, black and white bloons resist explosions and freezing, lead resists sharp attacks, purple resists energy, magic and fire, and camo cannot be targeted without detection. This combination is the core of every effective build.
Monkey Knowledge and hero levelling + Cash income and the Banana Farm
Monkey Knowledge points are permanent account upgrades that reduce costs and add small buffs, and heroes gain levels inside a match while only one hero may be placed. Paired with Cash income and the Banana Farm, cash comes from popping and from round end bonuses, and the banana farm converts early spending into a much bigger late defence. This is why the tier list favors builds that leverage both.
CHIMPS ruleset as a Multiplier
CHIMPS stands for no Continues, no Hearts lost, no Income, no Monkey Knowledge, no Powers and no Selling. One life, rounds 6 to 100, and every placement is permanent, so the mode is really a test of whether your opening spending was correct. This system amplifies everything else. The better your CHIMPS ruleset optimization, the more your other mechanics pay off.
Combat by Build
Each build approaches combat differently:
Primary (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Dart Monkey Primary mechanic: Two path upgrade limit
Primary offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Military (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Ninja Monkey Primary mechanic: Bloon properties and immunities
Military offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Magic (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Alchemist Primary mechanic: Monkey Knowledge and hero levelling
Magic offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Support (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Banana Farm Primary mechanic: Cash income and the Banana Farm
Support offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Heroes (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Super Monkey Primary mechanic: CHIMPS ruleset
Heroes offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Advanced Combat Techniques
Damage Optimization
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities
- Exploit Two path upgrade limit for maximum damage windows
- Chain Bloon properties and immunities and Monkey Knowledge and hero levelling for combo damage
- Use Cash income and the Banana Farm to create openings
Survivability
- Learn enemy patterns before committing to attacks
- Buy the two crosspath tiers before the tier 4 upgrade in most cases. A 2-0-4 Ninja out damages a 0-0-4 Ninja by a wide margin because pierce and attack speed multiply the base attack rather than adding to it.
- Position using Two path upgrade limit to control spacing
- Save defensive options for guaranteed survival, not comfort
Boss Combat
Bosses test your understanding of every mechanic. See our boss guide for fight-specific strategies.
- Phase awareness: Most bosses change behavior at health thresholds
- Patience over aggression: One extra hit per opening beats dying to greed
- Build preparation: Swap gear and equipment for specific fights when needed
Common Combat Mistakes
- Button mashing: Committed attacks have recovery frames. Mashing locks you into animations.
- Ignoring Bloon properties and immunities: This mechanic exists for a reason. Players who use it take significantly less damage.
- Wrong equipment for the situation: Check our weapons guide for situational picks.
- Not learning from deaths: Every death teaches something. If you don't know why you died, you'll die the same way again.
- Overcommitting: Trading hits works in Monkey Meadow but will get you killed in Muddy Puddles.
More Bloons TD 6 Guides
- Bloons TD 6 Bloons TD 6 Overview
- Bloons TD 6 Best Builds
- Bloons TD 6 Tier List
- Bloons TD 6 Walkthrough
- Bloons TD 6 Beginner's Guide
- Bloons TD 6 Tips & Tricks
- Bloons TD 6 Weapons Guide
- Bloons TD 6 Boss Guide
- Bloons TD 6 Maps & Locations
- Bloons TD 6 Crafting Guide
- Bloons TD 6 Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Bloons TD 6, check out these related guides:
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Combat Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Combat Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Combat Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
